Mixing the gunslinging Wild West of 1889 with 2019 cynicism, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” debuted its official music video, reuniting the rapper with country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and featuring cameos from several stars.
» Atlanta rapper Lil Nas X's removal from country music chart sparks controversy
"Old Town Road," which has been No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for six weeks, features Atlanta rapper Lil Nas X and Cyrus starring as time-traveling cowboys in a five-minute video, Rolling Stone reported. The video includes cameos from Chris Rock, Rico Nasty, Vince Staples, Diplo, Ha Ha Davis, Jozzy and the song's producer, YoungKio.
Rock plays a sheriff in 1889, shaking his head as Lil Nas X and Cyrus flee after robbing a bank, cracking, “When you see a black man on a horse going that fast, you just gotta let ‘em fly!”
» Atlanta rapper Lil Nas X breaks streaming record with 'Old Town Road'
When the pair are accosted at a nearby homestead by its gun-toting owner, Lil Nas X escapes by diving into a mineshaft that hurls him into 2019, Rolling Stone reported.
That's when the lonely banjo licks kick into the "Old Town Road" song, as Lil Nas X rides his horse down a modern street. He gets incredulous stares from Rico Nasty and Staples, and reunites with Cyrus, Variety reported.
Lil Nas X rides his horse to victory against a car in a street race, then heads to a bingo hall, where he and Cyrus sing -- and Diplo plays a washboard -- while the bingo players break out into a line dance.
» Country remix: Billy Ray Cyrus joins rapper Lil Nas X in 'Old Town Road'
"Old Town Road" was a viral hit on TikTok and was gaining traction on Billboard's Hot 100 when it was removed from the country charts because it did not "embrace enough elements of today's country music to chart in its current version," according to the magazine.
After that, Cyrus teamed with Lil Nas X to produce a remix.
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